See which N.J. Republican congressmen cross party lines the most | The Auditor

In politically toxic Washington, where crossing the political aisle hasn't exactly been encouraged over the past few years, The Auditor noticed that two New Jersey Republicans stand out.

U.S. Reps. Chris Smith and Frank LoBiondo are among the members of Congress most likely to work with the opposing political party, according to a study by the Lugar Center, a research and advocacy group, and the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University in Washington.

The study attempts to rank how often lawmakers are willing to work across party lines by co-sponsoring bills introduced by members of the other party and by adding them as co-sponsors to bills they introduced.

Only New York, with three current members, and Pennsylvania, with two, also placed more than one representative in the top 15. All five of those lawmakers also were Republicans.

One New Jersey Democrat, Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-9th Dist.), placed in the top 50.

The Lugar Center, based in Washington, was founded by former U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.). He left office after losing the 2012 Republican primary to Tea Party-backed challenger Richard Mourdock, who complained that Lugar was too willing to compromise with Democrats. Mourdock said during the campaign that when a woman became pregnant as a result of rape, "it's something God intended." He lost the general election to Democrat Joe Donnelly.